Outbreak of gastro-enteritis at Antrim Area Hospital

Dr Peter Flanagan, Medical Director said: “We have experienced a sharp rise in gastro-enteritis in the past few days and as a precautionary measure have declared an outbreak. We have put in place stringent measures to contain the infection; we are isolating and cohorting patients with the condition and we have doubled daily ward cleaning regimes. We are also re-iterating good hand hygiene practice to staff and issuing infection control guidance.

“This has put our Emergency Department under considerable pressure. We are working hard to get people admitted however this is more challenging in the current circumstances.”

We would ask for the support of visitors in particular:

Do not to bring children under the age of 12 with you.

Please do not visit if are feeling unwell or have recently had diarrhoea.

Wash your hands when entering and leaving the ward.

Do not bring food or flowers into hospital.

Do not sit on the patient’s bed.